Sevenoaks

Sevenoaks' population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. Data from the census show there were changes in housing tenure.

The population passed 110,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Sevenoaks increased by 5.1%, from about 109,000 to 115,000.

The addition of just under 5,600 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Sevenoaks was home to, on average, 2.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land (about 7,140 square metres).

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per 7,140 square metres) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

Rise in private renting

Census 2011 data also show a housing tenure change in Sevenoaks.

The percentage of households in Sevenoaks that rented privately increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 11% in 2011.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks households that owner their home decreased from 76% to 73%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Sevenoaks increased by 4.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Sevenoaks, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 6.6% to 4.0% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (85%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 73% in 2001. The percentage of Sevenoaks residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 11%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the proportion fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Sevenoaks, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Sevenoaks

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the White ethnic groups remained close to 110,000 between the last two seasons. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 98% to 96%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Sevenoaks from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 910 in 2001 to just under 2,100 in 2011 (from 0.8% to 1.8%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from about 850 to about 1,700 (from 0.8% to 1.5%).

About 850 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 260 in 2001 (0.7%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Sevenoaks decreased by 2.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Sevenoaks by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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